ATLANTA, GA – Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper recently announced the first confirmed detection of pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei) in Georgia. The detection was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Aug. 5, in Decatur County, Georgia. Pasture mealybug is an invasive insect that primarily affects annual and perennial warm-season grasses and poses a significant threat to …
Additional New World Screwworm-infested zones have been released in Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service approved the releases of these zones after concurrence from Texas’ state veterinarian Dr. Bud Dinges and the Texas Animal Health Commission. Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins said, “The Texas Animal Health Commission has been an …
The Peanut Institute publishes information about what is nutrition about peanuts. They say now it’s a brain-boosting benefit for men. Maintaining brain health in men, they say, requires attention to heart health, hormone regulation, and regular mental activity. Because men can be more vulnerable to accelerated cognitive aging and are less likely to seek treatment, preventive health care, including effective …
Late week highs in corn, soybean, and wheat futures could be new targets going into the September crop report from USDA a week from today. Watching December corn at the 550 level, November soybeans 1324-1325. Most analysts expect USDA to come below the pro-farmer corn number and at or maybe a little below their soybean number. Several producers that I’ve …
The Great Depression Creates an Opportunity The Great Depression brought severe economic hardship to rural American families, but for some entrepreneurs, difficult times also created opportunities. One such entrepreneur was a young Missouri farmer named John W. Tyson, who recognized a growing need for fresh poultry in larger Midwestern markets. Beginning in 1931, Tyson began delivering chickens from southern Missouri …
With southern points of entry being reopened to Mexican live cattle imports, many wonder what protocols are in place to protect American livestock from New World Screwworm. USDA’s Chief Veterinarian Officer Dr. Alan Huddleston explains the process and response methods in the case of NWS detection. “That lot of animals is refused entry into the United States,” Dr Huddleston explained. …
It’s peanut digging time as the peanuts are about ready and farmers are checking their fields now. At the same time, the Federal State Inspection Service is getting ready to grade this peanut crop. In Georgia, they said they have 116 buying points across the state with inspectors and assistants. They said we began the refresher training of experienced inspectors …
New Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh delivered his first major address to the Federal Reserve Board at their summer symposium last week. CME FedWatch tool is changing as a result. The board did not meet in August but is scheduled to meet on the 15th and 16th of this month. Any rate decision will come early afternoon on the 16th. Warsh …
From Settler Clearing to Forest Conservation As early American settlers cleared land for homesteads, farms, and growing communities, the federal government increasingly recognized that the nation’s forests were an important natural resource that needed to be studied and managed. The beginnings of organized federal forest management can be traced to 1876, when Congress created an office within the U.S. Department …
By Clint Thompson The University of Georgia (UGA) Cotton and Peanut Research Field Day was held on Wednesday and exposed growers and industry leaders to research being conducted on the UGA Tifton Campus. Specialists talked about various research topics, ranging from crop breeding to pest and disease management to cover crops’ importance. The Georgia Cotton Commission and Georgia Peanut Commission …
